As Penn State's coach, James Franklin owns an abysmal 4-19 record against opponents ranked in the Associated Press top 10 -- and is just 3-10 in such games when his team is also in the top 10. It's a mark that saw a small but significant boost with Penn State's resounding 31-14 College Football Playoff quarterfinal win against No.

As Penn State football head coach James Franklin has struggled against top ranked teams, the AD comes to his defense.

James Franklin has sent a message to Notre Dame and the college football world ahead of Penn State’s semifinal duel in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night. The 52-year-old, who is in his 11th season with Penn State and has the program on the doorstep of its first national championship appearance since 1986,